March 28, 2010

Show #99: 2010 NL East Preview

We look at our competition in the NL East as well as discuss the Heyward and Acosta moves.


Show #99 [ 30:59 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 

74 Responses to “Show #99: 2010 NL East Preview”

  1. 1
    Bubdylan Says:
    March 28th, 2010 at 10:38 pm

    Good show!

    No buying the Hamels is Back line, either.

    But the Phillies are the best team in the NL. All their pitching has to be is decent and they’ll grab the crown.

    The Marlins, I’m reserving judgment, but they worry me. I see the Braves and the Fish fighting it out for the wild card, now that the Mets and Nats seemed poised for ugly years, allowing three NL East teams to have very good records.

  2. 2
    Bubdylan Says:
    March 28th, 2010 at 10:39 pm

    By crown, I meant the division.

    Don’t know why I said crown.

  3. 3
    Bubdylan Says:
    March 28th, 2010 at 10:40 pm

    I by “reserving judgment,” I meant reserving it until the next sentence of that comment.

    Time for bed.

    Go Braves.

  4. 4
    Will Says:
    March 29th, 2010 at 5:08 am

    ok…I get it..when there are lots of links, the post has to be approved…cool.
    I could get into Bobby V as skip, if Torre wouldnt. Blasphemy? Hes a stud, have met him. Looks good in a mustache too.

  5. 5
    Will Says:
    March 29th, 2010 at 5:09 am

    sorry broke a promise in my post (not to mention Bobby V ever again)

  6. 6
    Will Says:
    March 29th, 2010 at 5:11 am

    Im going out on a limb not having even heard this podcast yet and saying that I think the Braves will win the division. Just to be a homer and based on my training in the force, an eleven sided die, and having just eaten a pound of moldy cheese.

  7. 7
    Anne Says:
    March 29th, 2010 at 6:57 am

    I’m halfway through the podcast – listened on my way in to work this morning. I don’t know nothin’ ’bout ‘nothin’, but: is there any chatter/is there any chance that Fredi Gonzalez could come back to the Braves and replace Bobby next year? I like the guy, and it’s true that it’s hard to motivate a team – good or not – if no one’s coming to watch. Just askin’.

  8. 8
    Will Says:
    March 29th, 2010 at 7:28 am

    Cmon, maybe McClouth is Ibanezian?

    Thanks for the reality check, tho. Good show.

  9. 9
    Curt Says:
    March 29th, 2010 at 7:53 am

    Anne, lots of talk about Fredi Gonzalez coming back here from Atlanta fans and the media. Feeling that I have gotten from him and the Marlins, should he survive this year, is that he wants to be with the team when they move into their new stadium and start spending some money on the club. He really wants to be part of that transition. But that of coure is all dependent on him keeping his job through to next season.

  10. 10
    Princess Leah Says:
    March 29th, 2010 at 9:39 am

    I hate the Phillies. Just had to get that off my chest. I feel better now.

  11. 11
    Anne Says:
    March 29th, 2010 at 10:58 am

    Thanks, Curt. As I’ve mentioned in past, I can barely read, let alone muster a complete thought…so I let you people tell me what I know and leave the Blog-reading and reporting to others. I think Fredi has done really well for that franchise since he “left us” and kudos to him for wanting to stick with it, even if only his 2nd cousins come to Marlins games. That’d be a raw deal if they let him go for something that isn’ this fault…but, hey, it wouldn’t be the first time.

  12. 12
    Steve Says:
    March 29th, 2010 at 12:03 pm

    Here’s my semi-mean Frenchy post of the day. There’s an interview with Jason Bay in the NY Post (http://tinyurl.com/yhr6bm7). In it, the the interviewer starts throwing out names of players, asking for Bay’s reaction. Such as:

    Q: David Wright?
    A: A great guy on and off the field. He means a lot to the city of New York and to this team.

    Q: Johan Santana?
    A: Not what I was expecting at all. I thought Johan was that dead-serious-all-the-time guy. He jokes around. . . . He’s human.

    Then we get to Frenchy …

    Q: Jeff Francoeur?

    A: Still talking.

  13. 13
    Princess Leah Says:
    March 29th, 2010 at 2:09 pm

    Brooksy going deep. That’s fun! I was afraid to listen to today’s game and it still may end badly but atleast we showed up.

  14. 14
    Hammy Says:
    March 29th, 2010 at 2:10 pm

    We should have a section on the show – “Steve’s Semi-Mean Frenchy Comment of the Week”, where Stevie says things like “he’s a nice enough guy, but I really hate him” and “what a nincompoop, bless his heart”.

    I think it has potential. We can put it right between my “Chris Resop Joke of the Week” and Curt’s “Gall Bladderless Bile Rant of the Week”.

  15. 15
    Princess Leah Says:
    March 29th, 2010 at 3:23 pm

    I know it’s ST but that was a nice win.

  16. 16
    Bubdylan Says:
    March 29th, 2010 at 4:31 pm

    Steve, that article snip is the greatest thing ever.

  17. 17
    Bubdylan Says:
    March 29th, 2010 at 4:58 pm

    “I just didn’t get the impression, from postgame comments today, that anyone is going to get a spot over Chavez (Cox lauded him again), and I don’t think they’re ready to have Kimbrel on the roster just yet. Asked Cox a question about Kimbrel today and it was ‘He was OK’ sort of response.” -DOB

    *raises hands to the sky*

    WHYYYYYYYYYYYYHI-HI-HYYYYYY????!!!!!

  18. 18
    Curt Says:
    March 29th, 2010 at 5:10 pm

    Gotta have one of them out there.

  19. 19
    Bubdylan Says:
    March 29th, 2010 at 5:18 pm

    Yeah, but why not Kimbrel?

  20. 20
    Curt Says:
    March 29th, 2010 at 6:28 pm

    Might have 2, because Jo Jo is making the team

  21. 21
    hammy Says:
    March 29th, 2010 at 6:48 pm

    Kimbrel needs the reps, and he won’t get enough of them in the bigs next year. Not that I want any part of Jo-Jo or Chavez (although the words from DOB on Jo-Jo were heartening).

  22. 22
    Bubdylan Says:
    March 29th, 2010 at 6:55 pm

    I don’t envision Jo Jo being a disaster out of the pen. His problems are mental, so I don’t understand why they haven’t tried to ease him with short outings.

    Clean bases only, though. Law, please don’t send him in there as the next Jeff You-Let-Em-On-and-I’ll-Let-Em-In Bennett.

  23. 23
    Anne Says:
    March 29th, 2010 at 7:00 pm

    I’ll be sitting close enough to the dugout – and trust me, I can bellow with the best of them – that Bobby will indeed hear me if he does dumb things this season. I promise.

  24. 24
    Princess Leah Says:
    March 29th, 2010 at 7:56 pm

    Must read…right now…
    http://bit.ly/aTDF5k

  25. 25
    Bubdylan Says:
    March 29th, 2010 at 8:07 pm

    Great link, Leah. Makes me proud of the organization.

    I baked chicken. I really did it. It tastes incredible. Look out, world.

  26. 26
    Bubdylan Says:
    March 29th, 2010 at 8:08 pm

    And, Leah, speaking of domesticity, I think the inside info you gave me is fairly impossible. But the pun was good.

  27. 27
    Anne Says:
    March 29th, 2010 at 8:15 pm

    Bub – I have your domesticity disease. I’m on meal #2 for a certain someone this week who is pretty freaking great. AND he keeps eating my food and surviving! Congrats to you…

  28. 28
    Steve Says:
    March 29th, 2010 at 8:20 pm

    Leah – fantastic link!

  29. 29
    Bubdylan Says:
    March 29th, 2010 at 8:28 pm

    When I actually had a girlfriend, she cooked me the dryest chicken ever on our first at-home date. I mean, you wouldn’t believe it. I have jerky with more juices.

    Anyway, I made it through the meal assuring her it was fine, but this bird was so tough it was hard to keep a straight face while gnawing on it. I would chew and chew and it would not become swallowable. She gave up on hers and fed it to her jack terrier. About the third time she said don’t keep pretending, it’s okay, I’m fine with a cooking disaster, etc. and I was still insisting it was fine, the dog, who had drug his piece into the next room to try and master it, he lets out this extremely loud hack-it-up sound and we both just lost it.

    Now I cook for myself. I lit a candle with dinner tonight, but one of my deep sighs blew it out.

  30. 30
    Wiley Says:
    March 29th, 2010 at 9:00 pm

    When I had a girlfriend . . . oh wait

  31. 31
    Princess Leah Says:
    March 29th, 2010 at 10:51 pm

    I love that story! About Heyward although the one about dry chicken and dog hacking wasn’t bad either. I can totally picture the guy in the woods braving snakes and Mosquitos the size of small chihuahuas to get a look at J-Hey. Can’t you see him waking the next morning with one eye swollen shut from poison ivy and the other wild with years of anticipation?

    Bub, my inside intel is rarely wrong and that pun must be recycled. How’d you bake your chicken? Was it a whole bird? I rarely bake the whole bird…don’t like touching the package inside (boo-ya).

  32. 32
    Princess Leah Says:
    March 29th, 2010 at 10:52 pm

    Wiley…I bet all the girls go slap crazy for ya.

  33. 33
    Bubdylan Says:
    March 29th, 2010 at 11:22 pm

    Nah, it was a pack of thighs. Didn’t want to spend breast money before I saw if I could cook it. [pauses for jokes]. Half of them I just baked in a cass. dish with a little butter. The other half I got fancy wif da mushroom soups. The plain ones were better, though.

    Go Braves!!

  34. 34
    Princess Leah Says:
    March 30th, 2010 at 7:11 am

    Another one bites the dust…Kimbrel sent down. Bub, you’re not doing anything but watching movies these days, head south and tell Bobby what for!

    Have you ever tried marinating and then cooking chicken in Italian dressing? It’s a staple at our house.

  35. 35
    Bubdylan Says:
    March 30th, 2010 at 9:18 am

    I study.

    I had so much italian-marinaded meat growing up I got worn out on it.

    Wren has let the cat out of the bag on Kimbrel on the radio, so wasn’t surprised there. But I predict Chavez lays a big egg. Starting to half believe those who say front office pride over the Soriano trade is the reason he’s getting such a long leash. So much for taking the best team North.

    The positive I’m taking from it is that, while we may suffer with Chavez, giving Kimbrel the steady reps in the minors will probably make him even better.

  36. 36
    Curt Says:
    March 30th, 2010 at 10:04 am

    Bub, olive oil is a nice option and a little healthier than butter.

    You know the Soriano angle is a good one. Hadn’t really gone down that road which is shocking given my tilt toward cynicism. Of course the irony is that the best way to hide that trade is not to have his replacement getting drilled every time he comes into a game.

    “and you thought Soriano gave up soul crushing homers….”

  37. 37
    Princess Leah Says:
    March 30th, 2010 at 11:08 am

    But butter tastes sooooooooo good. Especially when it makes the skin all crunchy and delish. I thought this week was spring break…no offense Professor.

  38. 38
    Patrick Says:
    March 30th, 2010 at 11:59 am

    Enjoyed the ‘cast and loved the Heyward story more (sorry).
    God bless good old-fashioned parenting when you hear Heyward’s pop say, “I know we live in a democracy, but this is a dictatorship. No.”, when our RF wanted to consider football …. I shall express the same to my little girl when she wants to ditch the 7-iron soon to be in her hands in exchange for a volleyball or something.

  39. 39
    Curt Says:
    March 30th, 2010 at 12:16 pm

    Just did 20 minutes with a Phils podcast.

    Question 1: how good will the Braves be this year?

    Question 2: why do the fans suck so bad?

  40. 40
    Wade Says:
    March 30th, 2010 at 12:44 pm

    Answer 1:
    Wilcard at least, perhaps hunt down the Phils.

    Answer 2:
    We are for the most part, gainfully employed, unlike your fan base.

  41. 41
    Princess Leah Says:
    March 30th, 2010 at 12:47 pm

    Link please Curtis! I hope you were a bit grouchy. You’ve sounded a little soft here lately. My Sportacular app showed me the Braves scored a run so I made a bet with the Rev that Martin Prado had something to do with the RBI. He placed his bet on J.Hey. I said “Honey, he’s not in the lineup”. He said, “Doesn’t matter…he’s just that good.”

  42. 42
    Bubdylan Says:
    March 30th, 2010 at 1:03 pm

    haha, score one for the Rev.

  43. 43
    Bubdylan Says:
    March 30th, 2010 at 2:49 pm

    Woot. Down with the Half-Yankees.

    Is KK really a good pitcher? When can we finally say, “yeah, I guess he is?”

    Am I behind? Cuz I haven’t said it yet.

  44. 44
    Princess Leah Says:
    March 30th, 2010 at 3:04 pm

    They don’t call him Killer for nothin and when I say they I mean me. I’ve never actually heard anyone else call him that. Sabathia’s “seeing” red. Love beating that guy in any league.

  45. 45
    Bubdylan Says:
    March 30th, 2010 at 5:11 pm

    Acosta to the Mets.
    Any regrets?

    Hey, a rhyme.

  46. 46
    Curt Says:
    March 30th, 2010 at 5:52 pm

    I’m working on a link. I will post it when I get it. I actually had a nice conversation with them. I tried to explain very analytically why it is that the Braves don’t draw as well. We’ll see if it works.

    Leah, I don’t know what kind of phone you have, but I would highly suggest the MLB 2010 At Bat app. It’s really great. Costs $15, but you get audio for every game, video (if the have the MLB TV package), all sorts of stats. Much better than sportacular.

  47. 47
    Will Says:
    March 30th, 2010 at 6:30 pm

    Why our fans suck.

    1. Great broadcasters that made it nearly as entertaining to go to a game as to sit in the comfort of home
    2. Hassssssle to get to the stadium. Hassle to park, hassle to walk through rough neighboorhoods. CRAP public transit
    3. RIP OFF concession prices

    our fans dont suck they are just lazy
    (raises hand- myself included)

  48. 48
    Will Says:
    March 30th, 2010 at 6:32 pm

    The syntax of 1 is in reverse- nearly as entertaining to stay at home as to go.
    Iphone….

  49. 49
    Curt Says:
    March 30th, 2010 at 6:47 pm

    All points I made

  50. 50
    Tcc Says:
    March 30th, 2010 at 8:51 pm

    WE are Braves fans and We don’t suck! Who cares about the rest of them. The city of Atlanta has never been a big time sports town as others have been, and may never be. It’s hard to make up for the years of tradition that NY, Boston, Chicago, SL, Cincy, LA and others have. ATL is mucho metro and not enough retro.

  51. 51
    Princess Leah Says:
    March 30th, 2010 at 9:31 pm

    Yeah Cledus…devil take them’s what I always say. Curt, I do have the At Bat app as well as Sportacular, not sure if I’m proud of that fact or embarrassed. I like to be notified of what’s going on even if I’m not watching/listening to the game and the later keeps me informed (such a type A thing to do, sigh). My husband and I are doing our Spring song and dance re: mlb.tv. I give him my best puppy dog look and he rolls his eyes. I make subtle hints and he pretends not to hear. I know I could just buy the darn thing and he wouldn’t complain but I’ll feel less guilty as the games click by if he makes the purchase. He always does but I have to give him hell for a while (it’s not codependency if you both acknowledge it right?). I try to remind him how most guys would scoop out their spleen with a spoon to have their lady want to watch a sporting event.

  52. 52
    Bubdylan Says:
    March 30th, 2010 at 10:45 pm

    I like the Dan Patrick show.

  53. 53
    Curt Says:
    March 30th, 2010 at 10:54 pm

    Here it is folks. Looks like the talk about Atlanta fans got dumped.

    http://fingerfood.typepad.com/finger-food/2010/03/podcast-episode-no-7.html

  54. 54
    Princess Leah Says:
    March 31st, 2010 at 7:26 am

    So Curt, how’d it feel to be on the other side of the phone? Do you think it’ll change your hostiness? Nice job! Made us proud. I don’t like the pity after they hung up with you. We hard core Atlanta fans are doing just fine thank you very much! That’s just how fantastic our team is!

  55. 55
    Princess Leah Says:
    March 31st, 2010 at 7:27 am

    Any idea why the time stamp shows an hour earlier?

  56. 56
    Bubdylan Says:
    March 31st, 2010 at 8:24 am

    Phils choose Moyer for 5th spot over Kendrick.

    Well, there’s a couple of games for us anyways.

  57. 57
    Steve Says:
    March 31st, 2010 at 8:51 am

    Curtis – cannot wait to hear the interview.

    I am all on board about Atlanta being a crappy baseball town. Believe me, I’ve sat through all those painful playoff series in the early 2000′s at Turner amidst a sea of Cards fans, Cubs fans, etc. Just horrible. But, isn’t there something to the fact that the best baseball towns have harsh winters and little interest in college sports? I really think there’s a big regional piece to the puzzle.

  58. 58
    Anne Says:
    March 31st, 2010 at 11:45 am

    What’s that smell?? It’s either the “Funnel of Love” or “Batter Up!” but either way, I smell baseball in the air drivin’ by The Ted. Friday Friday Friday you’re goin’ DOWN White Sox. Go Braves!!

  59. 59
    Curt Says:
    March 31st, 2010 at 1:00 pm

    Other than SEC football, the South is a crap sports region. And that goes from DC to Baltimore, to Charlotte, through to Miami and out to New Orleans. Atlanta has just been targeted by the national media, partly because of the end of the run Braves post-season crowd, and primarily because there is an overt media bias against Atlanta. It goes back to that famous SI “Loser Town” article.

    Check out the crowds at any sporting event these days and tell me if the crowds in Atlanta are that much worse. Look at Miami? Horrible sports town. But because of the success of the Dolphins, no one talks about it as a bad sports town.

    And Phillies fans were conveniently disguised as empty seats when they were having their great run through the late 90s. Let’s not kid ourselves. I watched a Hawks-Sixers game the other night and no one was there. There are few bullet proof franchises left.

    One point that is never discussed, and this might be the ultimate cop out, but the Ted is really big. Most of these newish stadiums are seating 35 to 37k. Not sure what the Phillies little league park holds, but I’ll bet it is nowhere near the 47k Turner Field supports. so we sell 35,000 seats to our games and there are 12,000 empty seats to be mocked. Wrigley holds 10 people. Literally. 10 people.

  60. 60
    Princess Leah Says:
    March 31st, 2010 at 2:06 pm

    Never thought about the size of the stadiums…interesting. No wonder we couldn’t get tickets to Wrigley. Question…When a pinch runner comes in and ends up scoring who gets the run scored? I did not remember us getting EOF on waivers. Waivers bring up a whole slew of other questions but I’ll google and strain my brain.

  61. 61
    Bubdylan Says:
    March 31st, 2010 at 5:32 pm

    Hey, isn’t today the big ABT Anniversary show, or somesuch?

  62. 62
    Steve Says:
    March 31st, 2010 at 6:21 pm

    Bub – indeed it is. We record tonight and post it around 11:30 or so.

  63. 63
    Princess Leah Says:
    March 31st, 2010 at 6:49 pm

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZsppOw2Mxk

  64. 64
    Curt Says:
    March 31st, 2010 at 7:10 pm

    I take it back on Citizens Park. That place holds more than 44k according to attendance records from 2009. They drew 3.6 mill last year which is impressive. But as of 2002 they were pulling in 1.6. Braves that year did 2.6.

  65. 65
    Bubdylan Says:
    March 31st, 2010 at 7:22 pm

    I’m half way through “Precious.” Not for the faint of heart.

    Looking forward to the show.

  66. 66
    Princess Leah Says:
    March 31st, 2010 at 7:30 pm

    I wanna see that. I thought about reading the book first.

  67. 67
    Bubdylan Says:
    March 31st, 2010 at 8:14 pm

    Finished the movie. If you want a shirt full of tears, that’s your ticket. Sheesh. I hope it’s a long time before I complain about my life again.

    The closer we get to the beginning of the season, the more confident I feel about the Bravos. I guess that’s natural. The Phillies’ pitching being so strong in ST is a puzzle to me, and worrisome. And I just noticed that while we have five tough teams right out of the gate, the Phils are busy with the Nats for six games, the Astros, and some other creampuff I think. Between that and having our pitching order out of whack, and Jurrjens possibly needing a couple starts to get in rhythm, it seems like we’re due for some bumps in the road right up front. But once we get past that, I think we’ll give ‘em a run for their money.

    Our fifth series is against the Phillies. Curious to see what shape we’re in when that rolls around.

    But mostly I’m thinking about the Wild Card. Go Braves!

  68. 68
    Bubdylan Says:
    March 31st, 2010 at 8:15 pm

    *Not five tough teams right out of the gate. Four of five. One is the Padres.

  69. 69
    Princess Leah Says:
    March 31st, 2010 at 9:33 pm

    Can’t wait for the big show! :) . However, very tired, must sleep.

  70. 70
    Bubdylan Says:
    March 31st, 2010 at 10:04 pm

    Blanton’s having some oblique trouble. Those are a pain. I wonder if it’s harder on a pitcher than a hitter (Chipper’s had to deal with it.) They’re saying Blanton may miss some starts. Nothing definite.

    Between Perez’s dead arm (and dead talent), Lidge’s cortizone, and now Blanton’s oblique, gotta feel fortunate only having to deal with a sore shoulder delay from Jair.

    Arm injuries to pitchers is the most inelegant element in the whole sport to me. And it’s why these long, expensive pitching contracts are just loco. I don’t wish it on them, but I expect Santana to go down before that contract is over.

    Of course, with the success rate of Tommy John, maybe it actually makes more sense to sign a premier pitcher to a long contract, expecting one of those years to be his surgery year, rather than take a chance on losing a year or so of a four year contract. The percentage of lost time being smaller with the longer deal.

  71. 71
    Bubdylan Says:
    March 31st, 2010 at 10:08 pm

    NEW SHOW!! NEW SHOW!! NEW SHOW!! LET’S GO!!!

    Numero ciento. Yo doy una fiesta grande para el cumplanos del podcast ABT!!

  72. 72
    Bubdylan Says:
    March 31st, 2010 at 10:09 pm

    And Leah, I’m pretty sure they adjusted the time stamp so the comments would show my time zone. They know what’s up.

  73. 73
    Steve Says:
    March 31st, 2010 at 10:42 pm

    Yeah – sorry not to acknowledge the timestamp thing sooner. Not sure what the deal is with that. I’ll investigate. New show will be up in about 30 minutes. It’s a behemoth, so it takes longer to upload it, etc.

  74. 74
    Bubdylan Says:
    March 31st, 2010 at 10:56 pm

    I think I’m gonna be too sleepy. Lookin’ forward to it tomorrow. Advanced congrats on your hundredth show.

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